Father Linus led the group deeper into the temple, his steps purposeful but his gaze firmly fixed ahead. He made no effort to glance at his companions, not even offering the occasional reassuring smile that might ease the atmosphere. Instead, he kept his distance, his posture rigid, as though maintaining a barrier between himself and the strangers he had escorted inside.
Rui's eyes narrowed as she observed the priest's behavior. It was subtle, but the way he avoided so much as a fleeting glance at them was unmistakable. She leaned slightly toward Mary Ann, her voice low but laced with suspicion. "He's acting strange. Why does he keep avoiding us?"
Mary Ann's expression mirrored Rui's unease. "Maybe he's hiding something," she murmured, her gaze flickering toward Father Linus. "Or maybe he's already figured out we're not exactly the kind of people this temple would approve of."
